Abstract of Speech to be presented by Richard Haire, CEO Queensland Cotton. In considering my paper 'Implications and Opportunities for Australia Cotton', I have deliberately chosen not to dwell on the aspect of fibre quality in any detail. I have no doubt that having regard to calibre of speakers who will participate at this conference in subsequent sessions this issue will be covered in greater depth and eloquence than I could cover. What I do propose to discuss are several key issues which in my mind have the potential to shape the international trade landscape going forward. As a country that will continue to be heavily dependent upon export markets, I believe these issues have the potential to influence not just trade patterns but also the very competitiveness of our industry over the next decade. My primary purpose will be to stimulate your thinking about some of the issues and opportunities for trade in Australian cotton going forward. But more specifically, I would hope that this information will help you better assess some of the potential risks associated with competing in the international cotton market into the future.

This research project is a documentation of a historical geography of the adaptations to changes over time, amongst cotton communities across Australia. It has focused on the major challenges faced by the modern Australian cotton industry (1960s onwards), and strategies deployed to meet the challenges. Adaptation and adoption were the keys themes of this research project - the Australian cotton industry has a fast-paced history of development in Australia, and needed to be capable of rapid change. Cotton growers, associated research and development agencies, and cotton communities more broadly, have built an industry based on a capacity to adapt to local conditions, and test and adopt new technologies, as appropriate. Although not always a smooth journey, the adaptive capacity of the Australian cotton industry is notable, particularly from the early days of the modern industry. Although relatively new, Australia's cotton industry is now a world leader.The main challenges faced by cotton farming communities, that have driven and enhanced adaptation and adoption capacities include: a range from extreme natural events, major changes in water policy, pest and weed issues, environmental concerns, rapid changes in technology (including genetically modified cotton) (Cotton CRC, 2007) and socio-cultural challenges (Merrill and Pigram, 1984). Sociocultural challenges nclude adapting and integrating farming cultures, overcoming inefficiencies in harvest transport, maintaining community connections, forging researcher relationships with growers. A raft of foreseeable challenges include the vagaries of mining, particularly Coal Seam Gas mining, ongoing concerns about water and pests/weeds, and the uptake of new technologies, and the increasing corporatisation of cotton growing.The research used social science data generation techniques and a mixed methods format, including survey data generation, in-depth interviews and the inclusion of historical memorabilia, such as newspaper clippings and photos. The recollections of many of the industry's key players provided the bulk of the data, and provided material (video-recorded) for the production of a documentary DVD, which premiered at Narrabri, in New South Wales, in March 2012. This research is a starting point for future social research on the cotton industry in Australia.

BMP Border Rivers was a collaboration between the projects High Yielding Wheat in Cotton Farming Systems, and PhD Brendan Griffiths, and the private consultancy Griffiths Agriculture to extend research pertaining to the development of a system of achieving high yielding wheat in cotton farming systems in the Border Rivers region of Northern NSW, and Southern Queensland.Originally designed to implement practices from Southern irrigated farming systems, the project team very early in the project realised that these practices would not be directly applicable to a northern farming system, principally as a result of the interaction between crop physiology, and the obvious climatic differences, being a milder start to the season, and a hotter, shorter finish to the growing season. As such the project team set about developing a system that would be directly applicable to the northern irrigated cropping system, and environment, with very good success.Yields achieved at the start of the project, using methods developed in the southern high yielding grains projects, were rarely in excess of 6 t/ha. There were also associated issues with respects to crop physiology and grain quality. By the end of the project, experimental yields in excess of 9t/ha were able to be achieved, using improved methods of managing crop canopy, and other agronomic methods to manipulate various components of crop physiology, with the view of maximising yields, and minimising lodging and the associated grain quality problems.Throughout the course of the project a field demonstration site, displaying the research and methods discovered in the High Yielding Grains in Cotton Farming Systems and in PhD Brendan Griffiths projects, was set up in each year of the project. There were two field walks conducted at this site in each year of the project attracting relevant interested industry personnel interested in the development of best practice guidelines for the consistent achievement of high yielding wheats in a cotton farming system.A publication titled ''Irrigated Wheat- Best Practice Guidelines in Cotton Farming Systems'' was generated as part of the project outlining a system that will moreconsistently allow producers in the northern growing region of NSW, and Southern Queensland, the ability to achieve high yielding, high quality wheats in an irrigated cotton farming system.

Australian cotton is highly regarded amongst the world's cotton spinners for its high quality fibre characteristics, reliability of supply and lack of contamination. As an industry we enjoy access to regular, reliable buyers who are prepared not only to buy Australian cotton, but to buy it forward as much as two years in advance to ensure they secure their supplies early. However, in this competitive world, we cannot afford to rest on our laurels. There are large competitive threats looming and following the last two years of drought reduced supply, we need to rebuild Australian market share. This paper addresses the need and the opportunities to pursue an industry-wide campaign beyond the farm gate in order to maintain Australian cotton's global &quote;preferred supplier&quote; ranking, secure our market share, and increase grower profitability

Final Report - Variety development and tillage systems for cotton production in the Ord Stage 2 development

In June this year, I spent three days in a light aircraft traversing what seemed like the length of the country, looking at cotton farms and meeting with the people who are making their living out of these enterprises. I have had a unique privilege of being invited to be on the judging panel for your cotton grower of the year awards. May I take the opportunity to thank the organisers of the awards for inviting me onto your panel. And can I especially thank the families who so kindly welcomed me onto your properties. It is truly a sign of the times that an industry such as yours cares to invite someone like me, who is pigeon holed as a greenie by many, to participate in this showcasing of your industry to the rest of the world It was an excellent opportunity to see first hand how your industry works on the ground.

Manual calculations of yield loss from pest infestations are complicated and time consuming. The CottASSIST Aphid Yield Loss Estimator allows the user to enter current Aphid samples to estimate a rate of pest increase and the potential effect on yield. This allows crop managers to ‘look ahead’ to decide on control options or if natural enemy populations are providing sufficient control.

It has been ten long years since the CoAG reform agreement was first formalised between the state and federal governments. In that time much has changed including how regional parties today approach and affect discussion on water reform. In the early days both sides (government agencies and water users) approached with caution, then anger, which was followed by consideration of fact, some more anger and then more recently a desire on both parts to listen, accommodate and try to achieve workable solutions. At least that is how it has been in the Fitzroy Basin, which covers approximately 142,000km' is Queensland's largest externalIy draining basin, home to seven major river systems, over 1400 licensed water users and innumerable plant and animal species. With such area and diversity it becomes easier to comprehend the enormity of the task that faced agency staff when they first addressed water reform in the Fitzroy, but at the time department officials felt it would only take six months. That was in 1997 and the participants are still tackling these issues today. The process has been long, the consultations many with mixed results, participants increasingly difficult to find, budgets cut during the process and fewer from industry coming back to the table each year. Despite all this, the results of engagement between industry and government in the Fitzroy have been impressive, and this paper highlights some of those achievements and the processes by which they were gained.

The winter edition of CRDC's magazine, Spotlight, tackles the ongoing threats posed by diseases and weeds. It investigates the partnership between growers, extension officers and pathologists, who are working together to make a breakthrough in the management of Verticillium wilt.

It also looks at research into weeds management and the development of tools to help growers manage herbicide resistance - helping to avoid scenarios experienced overseas, where weeds are becoming resistant to many modes of herbicide resistance. A newly developed predictive modelling tool can help growers determine both the resistance and economic outcomes of weed control programs.

This edition also explores developments in two CRDC-supported projects, aimed at specifically addressing the farming systems research needs of dryland cotton growers and cotton production management in Southern NSW. And it highlights examples of our investments in people and the impact they are making: from Nuffield Scholars to Young Farming Champions and Science and Innovation Awardees.

Finally, this issue also contains CRDC's list of R&D projects for 2018-19. This list highlights the scope and direction of our research investments as we enter the final year of the 2013-18 Strategic R&D Plan.

This project aimed to develop farming systems and extension materials and processes that support growers in producing high yielding / high fibre quality cotton more consistently, profitably and sustainably. It thereby contributes directly to the profitability and competitiveness of the industry. This has implication both on-farm but also for cotton's role in the catchment through more rational management of inputs, especially, water, pesticide, fertilizer and energy. A second contribution is to co-ordination and integration of much production related research and the linkages with myBMP.Key Outcomes: Interrogation of industry data relating management inputs to lint yield and fibre quality has demonstrated that positive changes have occurred over the past eight years. Although rates of nitrogen application continue to increase, the range of application rates has narrowed. The number of insect sprays has declined as has the number of in-crop irrigations, providing a positive image for the industry. The management factors affecting productivity and fibre quality tend to vary between seasons and regions, reflecting differences in soils and climate.The project has shown that planting date and cultivar selection has an effect on resource use efficiency and does not impact productivity, except for delayed planting.The project has also shown that there may be potential for thin biodegradable film in promoting emergence and for conserving soil moisture at planting. The benefits may be greatest for cooler regions as soil temperatures are elevated beneath the film, thereby accelerating germination and emergence.The current system of inter-cropping cotton and legumes in close proximity is not commercially feasible. The concept of spatial rotation is attractive given developments in precision agriculture, where crops can be precisely planted in the landscape. There are perceived benefits in being able to rotate cotton and legumes in the same space over time; soil physical, chemical and biological properties will change which may improve cotton root growth, water availability, nutrient supply and pest and disease resistance. There are no practical benefits at this point in time. Preliminary measures of soil strength have highlighted the possibility of subsoil compaction developing from the use of increasingly heavy harvesting equipment. Strategies need to be developed to minimise subsoil compaction and for amelioration in the long-term.An assessment on changes in soil organic carbon in three long-term experiments at ACRI was undertaken; where one has demonstrated nitrogen and carbon benefits from rotation with legumes, one has shown a benefit in soil carbon from rotations with both wheat and legumes and one the benefit from minimum tillage and including wheat in the rotation.